Monday, 29 October 2007

I Love...Mary Blair

Hands up who's a lifetime member of the Mary Blair Appreciation Society (if there is such a thing)? Meeeeee!!!

I've loved Mary Blair since I was little & first read I Can Fly. Isn't it funny how kids study things so intently? Well I know every brush stroke of every illustration from that book, & when I recently got hold of a first edition copy & flicked through its pages for the first time in over 30 years, it was like being dumped over the head with an ice-cold bucket of 'OMG, I remember that!' My favourite picture was the one I've featured here, of the little girl as a make-believe worm in her fuzzy green beret & matching cardie. I wanted an outfit just like it when I was 5 - so stylish!

The beauty of Mary Blair's work is that it's just as fresh as it was 50 years ago, & her influence extends into the 21st century with so many artists (either consciously or otherwise) borrowing a little something (or a lot) from her style.

There's so much I could say about her work - about her amazing instinct for colour, how much I love her textures, the way she uses paint, etc, etc - but what I love most is her energy & spontaneity, the boundless sense of joy, & most of all, the memories her art evokes.

10 Comments

Can I join your Mary Blair Appreciation Society? I have seen some of her illustrations before, it is good to have a name to put to them. I have a large collection of kids books because I love the illustrations so much. These examples are wonderful!

i've been obsessed with Mary blair for the longest time! i have I can fly and the art and flair of mary blair.
I'm puzzled though, my I can fly book doesn't have that image in it! did later versions of the book have some pages missing?

Man, i am trying so hard to get my hands, on the golden songbook and little verses. any suggestions?
sam